Category Archives: Language

Announcing the “Voices” Seasonal Reading Series

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

I’ve surreptitiously founded a literary reading series in Lafayette, LA called the” Voices“ series.  The hope is to showcase amazing talent that we have in our community and beyond, perhaps, and bring a lively arts happening on a Saturday evening to Carpe Diem! We hope we will have success with these events and appreciate you sharing this information.

What was a whisper of a thought formed into an idea, then a plan, and then real, live happenings.  Our first literary night was in February when Patrice Melnick and I read original work. It was a great night.  

High off that success, we are planning spring, summer and autumn readings for the rest of 2012. Our goal is to present four literary events through the year to coincide with the seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn.  There may be additional readings for special events, such as book signings.   

Our host venue is the wonderful Carpe Diem! Gelato – Espresso Bar at 812 Jefferson Street in Lafayette.  We love them and they love us! Please support Carpe Diem!

 For the “Voices in Spring” event, we have poet/professor Marthe Reed of ULL reading her bold and elegant poetry, and Bonny McDonald of LSU performing an original act of spoken word, music and movement,–both artists will present something captivating, unique and dynamic at 7 p.m. on April 21st.

It would be their pleasure to inspire and entertain you.  

A bit from the press release below.

~Clare

If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don’t write, because our culture has no use for it.

—Anais Nin

On Saturday, April 21st, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. CARPE DIEM! GELATO-ESPRESSO BAR invites the public to spend a spring evening experiencing poetry and performance arts while enjoying gelato, espresso, tea, and pastries when it hosts VOICES IN SPRING: Poetry by Marthe Reed and Performance Art by Bonny McDonald.

Marthe Reed has published two books, Gaze (Black Radish Books) and Tender Box, A Wunderkammer with drawings by Rikki Ducornet (Lavender Ink); a third book is forthcoming from Moria Books. She has also published chapbooks, post*cards: Lafayette a Lafayette (with j/j hastain), (em)bodied bliss and zaum alliterations, all as part of the Dusie Kollektiv Series. Her manuscript, an earth of sweetness dances in the vein, was a finalist in Ahsahta Press’ 2006 Sawtooth Poetry Contest.

More info at: http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~mxr5675/ 

Bonny McDonald is a teacher, performance artist, and poet from Louisiana currently working toward a PhD in Performance Studies at LSU.  Over the last ten years, she has traveled widely as a performance poet and as a teaching-artist, leading a variety of workshops on creative writing, public speaking, and the dramatic arts. Part song, part dance, part poetry reading, her recent work explores boundaries between waking and dream, reality and fantasy, the body and the page.

The free event begins at 7:00 p.m. 812 Jefferson Street, Lafayette

Re: EATING THE HEART FIRST

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

What fueled the writing of many of the poems in Eating the Heart First was the desire to know myself more deeply, beyond motherhood, beyond wifehood; to discover more of myself through the creative process and craft of poetic art. I needed to become something more—to be transformed.

 

“Write from the depths of your experience—the writing itself will deepen experience.”

These are poems of grief, of ecstatic love and rage. Yes, many of these poems are sorrowful, but there is joy as well.  Find it and you will find something rare to be treasured. The poems are authentic although many of the narratives are likely fictional. Who is to say what the factual truth is?  I was aiming for something higher.

All of my experience informs my art. I have gone to the very edge in this writing and have come back whole.  There are personal poems and there are persona poems.  Take the journey with me. Trust my voice.  

The poems ask for a sacrifice. The poems ask you to give something of yourself in order to imagine their worlds, feel their emotional impact. The price is not too high, and there may be a catharsis, an illumination and some pleasure for you.

Much of my art is in pursuit of the image.  I strive to create arresting, powerful images and metaphors.  While some border on the surreal, I believe they are still accessible.  That is my best talent, I believe.  

I can’t wait for you to have this book in your hands or in your computer/e-reader! Fall 2012!

More soon…be well…there’s writing to do.

COMING SOON: My First Book!

Posted on by Clare L. Martin
I have been BURSTING to tell you this:
 
It’s OFFICIAL!
 
My debut poetry collection, Eating the Heart First, will be published by Press 53 this fall as a Tom Lombardo Poetry Selection.
 
I am profoundly grateful to Kevin Morgan Watson and Tom Lombardo for this incredible opportunity to share my words with the world. I poured myself out for this book–
 
Thank you thank you thank you…♥
 
More soon.
 
Now it is time for DANCING.

Year Eight of The Writing Life Begins

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

SUN RISES IN A NEW YEAR

March 15th, 2004, our family suffered a loss–the death of my son, Adam.  In my grieving, I reflected on my life and his life and thought: “What can I do with my life to honor him?” I had always believed myself a writer but struggled with discipline, leaving many things unlearned and unwritten. I thought back then: “If I can do “this one thing” to the best of my ability and honor (not neglect) my God-given gifts, then such a choice would be the best way I could honor Adam.” 

Adam’s death, although hard to bear, was the catalyst for choosing to follow this life-path with dedication and passion.  I have grown personally and have had numerous wonderful opportunities via The Writing Life.  Dear Adam gave so much and continues to bless…gone from us almost 8 years. He would be 28 this year. Wow.

And although much of my posting on the Internet is self-promotion, I think it is important to share this story and the bountiful blessings I have had in these remarkable eight years. Self-promotion is necessary because I want you to read my creative works.

I want to move you with my poetry.

I have had many struggles—some from which many people could not recover. I have recounted many here in previous postings, if you want to look back.  Right now I am looking forward which I believe is necessary for true healing.

I am grateful to God-Creator-Universal Force for Good-Power of Love or whatever it is that I do believe in for pulling me through, shoring up my confidence and for putting people in my path who have aided me with loving care, support and friendship.

I am excited about 2012. I am a mother of a 16-year-old who is smart and beautiful. She inspires me everyday.  I am married to a loving, strong and honest man.  I couldn’t ask for more, but for me there will be more in 2012—more writing, more reading, more learning and more teaching.  The momentum is with me as I continue my lifework.

I am on a path and I do not allow much to divert me from it.   

 

Thanks for reading. 

~Clare

A Gift

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

THE ROAD BEFORE US

Let us travel the road before us

and enter into the mystery of trees.

Let us find the sleeping doe

attentive and aware

of the ever-wolf.  I will go

and find kindling. I will set

the fire that will engage us

and carry our heaviest thoughts

upward.  Clouds dwindle.  

Smoke trails us like a wraith.

I am caught in it. I rise

to the web of bleak branches,

to the very tops of trees.

Tonight leafless trees

are smothered with blackbirds.  

This night-smoke

becomes the blackbird

rising to its highest—

Drifting embers smite the moon.

©2011 Clare L. Martin

What has my life taken out of your pocket?

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

I have made something.

(Although it is small and nearly imperceptible.)

It signifies my existence. It signifies

love I have given and received.

It signifies the things I have accepted

and that which I reject.

This lifework took years

and it has worn me.

I rise from bed dark mornings

because the desire to become

more real hunts me and haunts me—

even in sleep—that dark dance.

The desire to create is the desire

to become more real.  It is the desire

to deepen understanding

of Self and Other.

I am ready again, again, again 

to succumb; to give myself

over to the art engendered

within and without.

Occupy the Audience

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

This is me. Please enjoy.

 

Thanks to Jonathan Penton of Unlikely Stories and to Cite des Arts.

 

 

In the Rear-View Mirror

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

The Writing Life Year 2011

Thanks to all of the editors, hosts, friends who have supported me this year and for many years through our literary endeavors.

Nominee, Sundress Publication’s Best of the Net 2011, nonfiction category, for “The White Crane,” by Referential Magazine

Nominee, Dzanc Books’ Best of the Web 2011 for “Winter Brought Out All the Knives,” by Melusine: Woman in the 21st Century

Readings

Cite des Arts, Lafayette, LA November 4th

10th Annual New Orleans Book Fair, New Orleans, LA November 5th

The Maple Leaf, Everette C. Maddox Memorial Reading, November 6th              

 

2012 DAF Grant Recipients Celebration

Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, October 24th

 

100 Thousand Poets for Change                      

Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA September 24th

 

Open Mic Series at Casa Azul

                Featured Poet with Lana Wiggins, Grand Coteau, LA April 21st

 

Publications 

“Note to Self” The Centrifugal Eye, April 2011

“Haunted” Referential Magazine, Spring 2011

“Lost” Redheaded Stepchild, Spring 2011

“The Bird in My Ribcage” Redheaded Stepchild, Spring 2011

“How it Comes” A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Vol. 1, Issue 1

“Meditation on Intimations of Winter II” A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Vol. 1, Issue 1

“Poem at Red Moon (Full August Moon)” Unlikely Stories, September 2011

“Secrets Alluded to But Never Told” Unlikely Stories, September 2011

 

Press 53’s 2011 Spotlight anthology

 “Eating the Heart First” first appeared in Eclectica Magazine

“Poem Composed After Reading Plath’s Ariel at a Junkyard”

“4-Way Stop at Dusk” first appeared in Farmhouse Magazine

“Tattoo” “first appeared in Press 1

“Life Expectancy” first appeared in Blood Lotus

“I Have Learned To Hold My Tongue”

“To His Disquiet We Owe Recompense” first appeared in the Dead Mule

“Punishment”

“Starving Horses” first appeared in the Dead Mule

“The Gift” first appeared in the Dead Mule

In addition, I signed on as a Teaching Artist with the Acadiana Center for the Arts. I have high hopes that this will be a rewarding opportunity.

 

Looking Ahead:

2012

“What Winter Told Me” THRUSH, forthcoming January 2012

“Seeing Through” blue five notebook, forthcoming April 2012

“Ink on a Mirror” Louisiana Literature, forthcoming 2012

“Convergence” Louisiana Literature, forthcoming 2012

30 years from age 13

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

I was a bit anxious before we set out–I had not been to New Orleans since August 2005–a couple of weeks before The Storm. It was so good to be in the city again and to experience needed psychic healing by seeing a vibrant, energized city. Maybe it was the great weather but the peeps seemed joyful all around.  We didn’t have any negative experiences. Everything was cool.

My first visit to New Orleans was when I was 13 years old. I went with my parents and we stayed on St. Charles. I fell in love with the city–it wasn’t just a teenage crush–I rode the streetcars up and down the line over and over again and longed to live there when I grew up. Something caught my eye in a small NOLA newspaper I picked up on that trip back in 1981. A notice for a poetry reading at The Maple Leaf Bar. Wow. Poetry. Cool! I was just beginning to write pimpled and hormone-soaked lines.  I BEGGED my parents to take me or let me go on my own. I had never ever been to a poetry reading before. I had never ever been to a bar either but that didn’t factor into my comprehension of the potentially incredible, once in a lifetime possibility. A poetry reading sounded chic and exotic compared to my just up from the country-boudin and cracklin upbringing. I was really messed up when my parents wouldn’t let me go and I considered sneaking to Oak St. because I wanted to be there so badly.  (Same thing happened when the Stones played the Superdome in 1981. It killed me that I couldn’t go.)

My old, fuddy-duddy folks were so lame! So I didn’t go and wouldn’t go for another 30 years.

Today was my first time ever at The Maple Leaf. Today I was actually a featured artist there thanks to Jonathan Penton of www.unlikelystories.org   The Everette C. Maddox Memorial Prose & Poetry Reading held every Sunday at 3 PM in the courtyard of the Maple Leaf Bar is the longest running reading series in North America.  It was a great high for me to read there and be a part of the Louisiana tradition.

We arrived during the third quarter of a home Saints game and the bar crowd was wild to put it mildly. The Saints won and the Unlikely Saints did too. Our readings were sublime in my humble opinion. I hated leaving at the start of the open mic but tonight’s a school night and we had a long drive home.

This weekend in New Orleans, among many things, I experienced the Good that poetry is and the Good it can do. There was “good” poetry (and prose) for certain but I think our group the Unlikely Saints (Jonathan Penton, Michael Harold, Frankie Metro, Wendy Taylor Carlisle, and Kristina Marshall) and our audiences experienced the Good Vibrations that can occur in optimum circumstances when lovers and makers of art gather to expeience creative work.  Thanks to everyone who came out to listen, read, laugh with us. Most especially thanks to Jonathan for the invitation and all of his hard work.

Tuesday will be my birthday.  30 years from age 13, I have two completed manuscripts with good prospects, poems published in the double digits, a strong writing practice and lots of love and good energy surrounding me. This weekend was a circle completing and I hope to widen an (unbroken) circle in the future.

And I leave you with these humble words as a gift: 

Bless you, you who create art. Believe in your craft; give to it as much as you can.  Let it awaken you and be the matter of your dreams—

Your voice is both vulnerable and strong. Care for it. Bring the words which fly madly through you into the world through the discipline to which you adhere.  Share it. Give it another life in someone’s mind and heart.

And follow this creed—

“Each success, no matter how small, in the practice of what I love is a lightning strike against the dark.”

Clare

 

 

Clare Reading at 100 Thousand Poets for Change

Posted on by Clare L. Martin

Me.